NATS makes London atz class D
 

Looks like we are having some more EU harmonisation.... London CTR has become Class D, so now GA vfr flights can route through it.


Change is coming to the London CTR - NATS
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I think you'll find that this took place nearly two years ago.

From the link:-

Guess news doesn't reach Wales that fast! And it's not "London ATZ", it's the London Control Zone.

From what I hear, it’s “good luck with that” as far as getting a VFR clearance, although I haven’t tried myself...

HEATHROW DIRECTOR wrote: Indeed. Or perhaps it's just that they've been so excited by the recent arrival of modern inventions such as 'fire' and 'the wheel', that this gem of information has been overlook-you'd?

I think you'll find it was ICAO harmonisation, (SVFR banned in Class A airspace) nothing to do with the EU.

I operate in the LHR Zone almost every working day. I've certainly not had a problem obtaining a VFR clearance. Maybe whoever told you there was a problem didn't understand the other rules and regulations or had no experience?

It's actually easier to get clearance to transit the Heathrow CTR nowadays as controllers do not have to separate VFR traffic from other VFR traffic.
F'rinstance, previously with one routing ASCOT - BUR under SVFR, they wouldn't normally clear another aircraft in the opposite direction SVFR, now under VFR they can.

AFAIK SVFR in class A was never allowed by ICAO. The pressure for harmonisation may have come from several corners but EASA seems as likely as any.

The U.K. used to permit SVFR in class A CTRs (only) I.e. London and channel isles before they became class D.

Yes yes they did. They never could, though, under strict ICAO observance. Someone must have realised, eventually.

As I understand things of old (although my professional experience in UK only goes back 39 years), many years ago the U.K. declared a national variation to the ICAO requirements, along with a number of other instances. As it now has done for variations to SERA rules.

But no longer over this particular issue.

The UK has many 'differences' with ICAO SARPs filed; I think they're listed in the AIP.

LONDON CTR TRANSITS
 

It can be done and is simple to plan, request and fly:

If N to S then use Beaconsfield as an entry point then west of BURNHAM, to Ascot usually not above 1200 ft LON QNH then out the SW corner under radar control. A nice early request, planned well and flown in accordance with the clearance will cause no problems (of course have your Plan B ready just in case).

So calling up Heathrow Tower and 'Requesting route North to South, through your overhead at 1200ft', might work eh?
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No.
Under no circumstances freecall 'Heathrow Tower', they have enough on their plates without working unexpected transit traffic.
You SHOULD make your initial call to 'Heathrow Radar' on 125.625 unless you are working a radar unit which is handing you over to them.

> So calling up Heathrow Tower and 'Requesting route North to South, through your overhead at 1200ft', might work eh?

No problem, done it. But you do need to be in a helicopter. (And you phrase the request slightly differently, but that's a detail).

In a small plane, I've been SVFR but only on the outer fringes of what was then Class A, now Class D. You can't get anywhere close to either the airport or central London.

When I did my London helicopter tour in April, we called "Heathrow Special", not "Radar". And yes, we did get to talk to Heathrow Tower.

Not really what I said; IIRC, I said to route west of Burham and to Ascot - this take you well to the west of LHR.